Santa Cruz officials dedicate park despite rain

SANTA CRUZ -- Despite the rain and chilly weather, children ran across the playground and played on the swings Saturday at the dedication ceremony for the Riverside Gardens Park.

Though the dedication ceremony was Saturday, the half-acre park between Riverside Avenue and San Lorenzo Boulevard opened to the public Feb. 17.

John Kenney, who has lived in the neighborhood for 15 years, often walks his dog in the neighborhood and said it's always been occupied since then.

"The second they tore down the fences, the kids were here playing," he said.

The presence will likely have a positive effect on the neighborhood.

"It'll definitely keep the place nicer," he said. "Just having a presence here and more people."

Before the park was constructed, the half-acre lot that was three parcels of land was vacant and unkept.

"It was a big mess (before) and full of prostitutes and drug addicts," he said.

In 2010, the city won a $1.8 million grant from the state for the purchase of the half-acre and transformed the parcel into a neighborhood park.

Despite the rain, there were more than 50 people in attendance for the ceremony.

Though Santa Cruz Mayor Lynn Robinson favored the community garden, she said the overall message and theme of the park was her favorite aspect of it.

"It's pulling several things together," she said. "There's the community garden, there is the playground aspect of it and the gathering space."

In addition to the community garden space and playground, the park also features exercise machines, a small grassy knoll and a table.

Valerie Abbott brought her 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son to the ceremony. While most of the adult attendees were interested in the ceremony and ribbon cutting, her kids were racing around the new playground.

"We definitely appreciate having another city park to come to," said Abbott, 36.

Lani Garcia lives in the neighborhood but it was her first time in the park since it was open to the public.

"The small parks are great," she said. "Especially with the little toddlers. They don't need acres and acres to play."

Her hope is that the park will help the area residents to connect with each other. Garcia has gotten to know more of her neighbors at the dog park that opened in the area than through other means.

"I think this'll help in that way and that is just this huge gift," she said.